Adjustable skidder arch

ABSTRACT

A log skidder has an arch slideably mounted on an arcuate butt plate and includes means for fastening the arch to the butt plate in one of several selected positions to enable movement of the arch between raised and lowered operative positions.

United States Patent Inventor Allan J. Widley Markham, Ontario, Canada759,646

Sept. 13, 1968 Apr. 27, 197 1 Massey-Ferguson, Inc.

Des Moines, Iowa App]. No. Filed Patented Assignee ADJUSTABLE SKIDDERARCH 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 214/855, 212/7, 214/523 Int. Cl B60p 1/00 Field of Search214/523, 85.5,147,147(G),94;254/139.1;2l2/8, 7

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,388,830 8/1921 Broady212/8 1,388,831 8/1921 Broady..... 212/8 v 2,541,970 2/1951 Pospisil212/8 2,827,715 3/1958 Wagner (254/139.l) F ORElGN PATENTS 578,427 6/1946 Great Britain 212/8 582,030 1 H1946 Great Britain 254/139.1

Primary Examiner-Albert .1. Makay Attorney-Gerhardt, Greenlee & FarrisABSTRACT: A log skidder has an arch slideably mounted on an arcuate buttplate and includes means for fastening the arch to the butt plate in oneof several selected positions to enable movement of the arch betweenraised and lowered operative positions.

- PATENTEDAPRZ'IIQYI 3576266,-

7 SHEEI1UF3 INVENTOR.

ALLA/V J W/LDEY BY PATENTED APR27 ISTI SHEET 2 BF 3 INVENTOR.

ALLA/V J. WILDEY ATTORNEYS PATENTEUAPRZYIBYI 6576266 SHEET 3 OF 3INVENTOR.

AL LA/V J WILDEY ATTORNEYS ADJUSTABLE SKIIIDIDEIR ARCH This inventionrelates generally to log skidders and more particularly to an adjustablearch for a log skidder.

Log skidders are conventionally provided with fixed position archeshaving fair-lead rollers which elevate the winch cable to facilitatewinching logs to a position against butt plate prior to skidding. Thenormal mode of winching is to orient the skidder so that the logs may bewinched longitudinally of the skidder. However, in hilly terrain or inlocations of extremely limited maneuverability, it is necessary that thelogs be winched laterally of the skidder. This operation tends to tipover the skidder inasmuch as the distance of cable elevation, timestheforce required to winch creates a substantial moment tending to tip thevehicle about its inboard tires. In such situations,'it would bedesireable to lower the arch so that the total tipping moment isdecreased. In response to this problem, skidders have been designed withrebuildable arches that may be disassembled and reassembled withinverted or different structural members to lower the arch to a moreadvantageous position for lateral winching.

It is also desirable to elevate the arch when obstacles require furtherelevation of the winch cable. Such a situation could occur in ruggedterrain where the logs may be winched longitudinally, but must beelevated above rises, tree stumps or rocks.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an adjustableskidder arch which may be moved between raised and a lower operativepositions to accommodate winding of logs both laterally of the vehicleand longitudinally of the vehicle in rugged terrain.

In accordance with this invention, a log skidder is provided with aframe, a winch mounted on the frame, a logging arch, means mounting thearch on the frame for sliding movement between raised and loweredoperative positions, and means for securing the arch to the frame in aselected position.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will becomemore readily apparent upon reference to the follow ing detaileddesc'tiption of a preferred embodiment, as shown in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partially broken-away side elevation of the rear section ofa skidder embodying an adjustable arch according to this invention,showing adjustability of the arch from intermediate to raised andlowered positions;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation, looking in the direction of lines 2-2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1 and further illustrates the adjustability ofthe arch;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the arch, adjustmentfrom raised to intermediate position; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of the arch,illustrating adjustment from lowered to intermediate position.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 2 of the drawings, the rear section of askidder T0 is provided with a frame ll2 which mounts a pair of drivewheels 14 having rubber tires l6. Frame 12 further mounts an arcuatebutt plate 18 which extends between a pair of spaced, wing-shaped,curved fenders 20 which partially cover the tires 16.

Adjacent each fender 20, a butt plate 118 is provided withidentical-spaced upper apertures 22, 24, 26, and 28, andidentical-spaced lower apertures 30, 32, 34, and 36. The butt plate 18slidably supports a pair of spaced elongated arcuate plates 38 whichmount a logging arch 46. Each plate 38 is provided with identical upperand lower apertures 42 and 44, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, thearch 40 is movable between an intermediate operative position A, shownin solid lines, and respective raised and lowered operative positions Band C, shown in phantom lines. In the intermediate position A, apertures42 and 26 and apertures 44 and 32 are aligned and bolts 46 extendtherethrough to rigidly secure plates 38 and 18 together to rigidlymount the arch 40 to frame 12. Of course, it is readily apparent thatthe mere removal of bolts 46 easily releases the arch 40 for removalfrom the skidder for repair or replacement.

The arch further includes support arms 48 which extend upwardly andinwardly from plates 38 and mount a fair-lead assembly 50 comprising asupport frame 52, a main roller 54 and a pair of side rollers 56. Thearch 40 further includes a transverse rearwardly angled butt plate 58mounted on arms 48 and on spaced supports 59. Butt plate 38 coacts withbutt plate 18 to provide a continuous protective shield against whichlogs may butt. The skidder frame 12 mounts a winch 60 which is driven bythe vehicle engine (not shown) through a drive train 62. The winchincludes an elongated cable 64 which extends over the main fair-leadroller 54 and is extensible to a position remote from the skidder forthe choking of logs (not shown). The skidder frame l2 further mounts atowing hitch 66 having a hitch pin 67. Referring now to FIG. 2, thehitch 66 is accessible through an aperture 68 in butt plate 18 andthrough an open slot 70 in butt plate 58. The pin 67 may be reachedthrough slot 70' in butt plate 58 and the open area above butt plate 18.In the arch-lowered position C, the pin 67 is accessible through arectangular slot 70" and the hitch 66 itself is usable through a similarrectangular slot 70' Y The adjustability of the arch will now bedetailed, with references to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. When it is desired tomove the arch 40 out of the intermediate position A, shown in FIG. 1,the winch cable 64 is positioned as shown in FIG. 3, with the cabletaken from the winch and looped through slot 70, around the webbing 71above and through slot 70" so that the cable lies in a notch 72. Thecable is then tensioned, whereupon the choking collet 74 engages buttplate 58, and bolts 46 are removed.

Assuming that the arch 46 is to be moved to the lowered position C,shown in FIG. I, the winch 60 is operated to play out cable 64 to slideplates 38 downwardly on plate B between guiding fenders 20 untilabutments 76 on the bottom edges of plates 38 engage abutments 78mounted on butt plate 18 beneath apertures 36, as shown in FIG. 3. Inthis position, apertures 42 and 28 and apertures 44 and 36 will align sothat bolts 46 may be inserted therethrough to secure the arch in itslowered position. Cable 64 may again be threaded over roller 54 andwinching may be resumed.

Similarly, if it is desired to move the arch 40 to the raised positionB, shown in FIG. 1, a similar procedure is repeated. The winch 60 isoperated to slide plates 38 up on butt plate 18 as guided by fenders 20,until abutments 80 on the upper edges of plates 38 engage abutments 82mounted on the upper edge of butt plate l8 above apertures 22,as shownin FIG. 3. In this position, apertures 42 and 22 and apertures 44 and 30will be aligned so that bolts 46 may be inserted to secure the arch 40to the butt plate 18.

Adjustment of arch 40 from extreme positions B and C to position A willnow be described. Presume now that the arch is in the lowered position Cand it is desired to move the arch back to intermediate position A. Thecable 64 is again attached to the arch 40, and bolts 46 are againremoved. As shown in FIG. 5, the'uppermost bolt 46 is then placed inaperture 24 and winch 60 is operated to move the arch 40 so thatabutment 86 engages the uppennost bolt In this position, apertures 42and 26 and apertures 44 and 32 will again be aligned, whereupon thelowermost bolt 46 may be inserted and the uppermost bolt may be removedfrom aperture 24 and placed through apertures 42 and 26 to again securethe arch 40 to the butt plate 18.

Similarly, if the arch 40 is in raised position B and it is desired tomove the arch to intermediate position A, the cable 64 is similarlyattached to the arch 4t), and the bolts 46 are again removed. As shownin FIG. 4, the lowermost bolt 46 is inserted within aperture 34 and thewinch is operated so as to lower arch 40 until abutment 76 engages thelowermost bolt 46. In this position apertures 42 and 26 and apertures 44and 32 will again be aligned, whereupon the upper bolt 46 may beinserted through the aligned apertures and the lower bolt 46 removed andinserted through the aligned apertures to secure arch 46 to the buttplate 18. Following each of the arch position changes the winch 66 maybe operated so as to relax cable 64 so that collet 74 may be removed andthe cable again can be threaded over roller 54 for winching operations.

ln the above manner, it is readily seen that adjustment of arch 40between the raised, intermediate and lowered operative positions isfacilitated by the mere removal of four bolts and operation of thewinch. This enables adjustment of the arch by one man at the stump or inthe field, and with a minimum expenditure of time and effort.

lt is readily apparent that many modifications could be made to thedisclosed invention. The bolts 46 could be replaced by other fasteningmeans, the apertures 22, 24. 26, etc., could be replaced by elongatedslots or other fastening means, the arcuate butt plates could takedifferent form, or a different mechanical linkage could be used topermit a similar quick and efficient adjustment of arch 40 between itsvarious positions. These and further modifications of the subjectinvention are contemplated within the scope of the following claims.

l claim:

1. In a log skidder having a frame, a winch mounted on the frame, and alogging arch, the improvement comprising: means mounting the arch on theframe for sliding movement between raised and lowered positionsincluding an arcuate plate mounted on the frame and a mating platemounted on the arch engaging the frame plate, and means for securing thearch to the frame in a selected position.

2. The log skidder of claim 1 wherein the winch includes a cable, andthe arch includes means for attaching the cable to the arch; whereby thewinch is operable to move the arch between positions.

3. The log skidder of claim 1, wherein: the mounting means include aplurality of apertures formed in the frame and arch plates, an archaperture being aligned with a frame aperture in each arch position,fastening means insertable within the aligned apertures to secure thearch to the frame in various positions, and abutment means for locatingthe arch in each position to align the apertures.

4. The log skidder of claim 3, wherein: the abutment means include oneof the fastening means mounted in a plate aperture located adjacent anaperture corresponding to a selected arch position, and an abutmentmounted on the arch, the said one fastening means abutting the archabutment upon movement of the arch to the selected position, therebyaligning an arch aperture with a frame aperture to facilitate insertionof the fastening means.

5. The log skidder of claim 1, wherein: the mounting means includelocating means for locating the arch in raised and lowered positions.

6. The log skidder of claim 5, wherein: the mounting means include meansfor guiding the sliding movement of the arch between raised and loweredpositions.

7. The log skidder of claim 6, including rear fenders and wherein theguiding means include guide surfaces formed on the fenders, the archplate sliding between said guide surfaces.

8. The log skidder of claim 5, wherein: the locating means includecooperating pairs of abutments mounted on the arch and on the frame forlimiting movement of the arch to raised and lowered positions.

PO-IOSO (5/59) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONPatent; No. 266 Dated April 27, 1971 Inventor) Allan J. Wildey It iscertified that error appears in the aboveidentified patent and that saidLetters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

' On the cover page of the above mentioned patent, the inventor's me.

is misspelled. Please correct the inventor's name from Allan J. Widleyto Allan J. Wildey.

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of August 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FI..ETCI-IER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Attesting OfficerGomissioner of Patents

1. In a log skidder having a frame, a winch mounted on the frame, and alogging arch, the improvement comprising: means mounting the arch on theframe for sliding movement between raised and lowered positionsincluding an arcuate plate mounted on the frame and a mating platemounted on the arch engaging the frame plate, and means for securing thearch to the frame in a selected position.
 2. The log skidder of claim 1wherein the winch includes a cable, and the arch includes means forattaching the cable to the arch, whereby the winch is operable to movethe arch between positions.
 3. The log skidder of claim 1, wherein: themounting means include a plurality of apertures formed in the frame andarch plates, an arch aperture being aligned with a frame aperture ineach arch position, fastening means insertable within the alignedapertures to secure the arch to the frame in various positions, andabutment means for locating the arch in each position to align theapertures.
 4. The log skidder of claim 3, wherein: the abutment meansinclude one of the fastening means mounted in a plate aperture locatedadjacent an aperture corresponding to a selected arch position, and anabutment mounted on the arch, the said one fastening means abutting thearch abutment upon movement of the arch to the selected position,thereby aligning an arch aperture with a frame aperture to facilitateinsertion of the fastening means.
 5. The log skidder of claim 1,wherein: the mounting means include locating means for locating the archin raised and lowered positions.
 6. The log skidder of claim 5, wherein:the mounting means include means for guiding the sliding movement of thearch between raIsed and lowered positions.
 7. The log skidder of claim6, including rear fenders and wherein the guiding means include guidesurfaces formed on the fenders, the arch plate sliding between saidguide surfaces.
 8. The log skidder of claim 5, wherein: the locatingmeans include cooperating pairs of abutments mounted on the arch and onthe frame for limiting movement of the arch to raised and loweredpositions.